Permits; Foreign Fishing, 36526-36527 [2013-14477]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 36526 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 117 / Tuesday, June 18, 2013 / Notices scheduled from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Central Standard Time (CST). ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meetings will be held via a GoToWebinar Conference. The webinars are open to the public. Those interested in participating should contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT) to request an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar. SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; telephone: (843) 571–4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data/ Assessment Workshop; and (2) a series of webinars. The product of the Data/ Assessment Workshop is a report which compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses, describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, HMS Management Division, and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include: data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists; biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including fishermen, environmentalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); international experts; and staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies. The items of discussion in the Assessment Process webinars are as follows: 1. Participants will use datasets and initial assessment analysis recommended from the in-person workshop to employ assessment models to evaluate stock status, estimate VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Jun 17, 2013 Jkt 229001 population benchmarks and management criteria, and project future conditions. 2. Participants will recommend the most appropriate methods and configurations for determining stock status and estimating population parameters. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 business days prior to the meeting. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: June 13, 2013. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–14478 Filed 6–17–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC034 Permits; Foreign Fishing National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information regarding a permit application for transshipment of Atlantic herring by Canadian vessels, submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This action is necessary for NMFS to make a determination that the permit application can be approved. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Written comments must be received by July 2, 2013. ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action, identified by RIN 0648–XC034, should be sent to Mark Wildman in the NMFS Office of International Affairs at 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone: (301) 427–8386, fax: (301) 713–2313, email: mark.wildman@noaa.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Wildman at (301) 427–8386 or by email at mark.wildman@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: Background Section 204(d) of the MagnusonStevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a transshipment permit authorizing a vessel other than a vessel of the United States to engage in fishing consisting solely of transporting fish or fish products at sea from a point within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of a state, within the boundaries of that state, to a point outside the United States. In addition, Public Law 104–297, section 105(e), directs the Secretary to issue section 204(d) permits for up to 14 Canadian transport vessels to receive Atlantic herring harvested by United States fishermen and to be used in sardine processing. Transshipment must occur from within the boundaries of the State of Maine or within the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69 degrees 30 minutes west and within 12 nautical miles from Maine’s seaward boundary. Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the MagnusonStevens Act provides that an application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that ‘‘no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the application is submitted has indicated . . . an interest in performing the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.’’ NMFS is publishing this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with respect to the application described below. Summary of Application NMFS received an application requesting authorization for five Canadian transport vessels to receive transfers of herring from United States purse seine vessels, stop seines, and weirs for the purpose of transporting the herring to Canada for processing. The transshipment operations will occur within the boundaries of the State of Maine or within the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69°30′ W longitude and E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM 18JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 117 / Tuesday, June 18, 2013 / Notices within 12 nautical miles from Maine’s seaward boundary. Dated: June 12, 2013. ´ Jean-Pierre Ple, Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–14477 Filed 6–13–13; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC172 Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Construction at Bremerton Ferry Terminal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental take authorization. AGENCY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to take, by harassment, small numbers of six species of marine mammals incidental to vibratory pile driving and pile removal activities at the Bremerton Ferry Terminal in Washington State between September 2013 and August 2014. DATES: Effective September 1, 2013, through August 31, 2014. ADDRESSES: Requests for information on the incidental take authorization should be addressed to P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. A copy of the application containing a list of the references used in this document, NMFS’ Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and the IHA may be obtained by writing to the address specified above or visiting the Internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm#applications. Documents cited in this notice may be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the aforementioned address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Guan, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Jun 17, 2013 Jkt 229001 36527 Background Description of the Specified Activity Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA established an expedited process by which citizens of the U.S. can apply for a one-year authorization to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals by harassment, provided that there is no potential for serious injury or mortality to result from the activity. Section 101(a)(5)(D) establishes a 45-day time limit for NMFS review of an application followed by a 30-day public notice and comment period on any proposed authorizations for the incidental harassment of marine mammals. Within 45 days of the close of the comment period, NMFS must either issue or deny the authorization. Detailed description of the WSDOT’s wingwalls replacement work at the Bremerton Ferry Terminal is provided in the Federal Register notice for the proposed IHA (78 FR 11844; February 20, 2013). Since that time, no changes have been made to the wingwalls replacement project at the Bremerton Ferry Terminal, except that WSDOT requested the incidental take coverage to be extended from February 28, 2014, through August 31, 2014, in case the project may be postponed. Nevertheless, the amount of activity and the duration of actual in-water construction has not changed. The potential change in work season will not affect marine mammal take estimates since the actual construction duration will not change and the initial calculation relied on marine mammal presence in the project area on annual basis. The details of WSDOT’s wingwalls replacement work at Bremerton Ferry Terminal are provided in the Federal Register notice for the proposed IHA (78 FR 11844; February 20, 2013). Please refer to that Federal Register notice for the description of the specific activity. Summary of Request On August 14, 2012, WSDOT submitted a request to NOAA requesting an IHA for the possible harassment of small numbers of six marine mammal species incidental to construction associated with the replacement of wingwalls at the Bremerton Ferry Terminal in Washington State. On December 4, 2012, WSDOT submitted a revised IHA application. The action discussed in this document is based on WSDOT’s December 4, 2012, IHA application. PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Comments and Responses A notice of NMFS’ proposal to issue an IHA to WSDOT was published in the Federal Register on February 20, 2013 (78 FR 11844). That notice described, in detail, WSDOT’s activity, the marine mammal species that may be affected by the activity, and the anticipated effects on marine mammals. During the 30-day public comment period, NMFS received comments from the Marine Mammal Commission (Commission). The Commission recommends NMFS issue the IHA to WSDOT, but has asked NMFS to condition the IHA in certain respects. Specific comments and responses are provided below. Comment 1: The Commission requests that NMFS justify its conclusion that the taking will involve only a small number of southern resident killer whales (SRKWs) and work with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commission to develop a policy that sets forth the criteria and/or thresholds for determining what constitutes ‘‘small numbers’’ and ‘‘negligible impact’’ for the purpose of authorizing incidental takes of marine mammals Response: As stated in the Federal Register for the proposed IHA, WSDOT is required to implement shutdown measures if the combined Level B takes of SRKWs reach to a total of 16 at the Bremerton Ferry Terminal, which is equivalent to approximately 19% of the SRKW population. Subsequently, NMFS E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM 18JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36526-36527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14477]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC034


Permits; Foreign Fishing

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information 
regarding a permit application for transshipment of Atlantic herring by 
Canadian vessels, submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This 
action is necessary for NMFS to make a determination that the permit 
application can be approved.

DATES: Written comments must be received by July 2, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action, identified by RIN 0648-
XC034, should be sent to Mark Wildman in the NMFS Office of 
International Affairs at 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (phone: (301) 427-8386, fax: (301) 713-2313, email: 
mark.wildman@noaa.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Wildman at (301) 427-8386 or by 
email at mark.wildman@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a 
transshipment permit authorizing a vessel other than a vessel of the 
United States to engage in fishing consisting solely of transporting 
fish or fish products at sea from a point within the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of a state, 
within the boundaries of that state, to a point outside the United 
States. In addition, Public Law 104-297, section 105(e), directs the 
Secretary to issue section 204(d) permits for up to 14 Canadian 
transport vessels to receive Atlantic herring harvested by United 
States fishermen and to be used in sardine processing. Transshipment 
must occur from within the boundaries of the State of Maine or within 
the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69 degrees 30 minutes west and 
within 12 nautical miles from Maine's seaward boundary.
    Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has 
adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the 
application is submitted has indicated . . . an interest in performing 
the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing 
this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with 
respect to the application described below.

Summary of Application

    NMFS received an application requesting authorization for five 
Canadian transport vessels to receive transfers of herring from United 
States purse seine vessels, stop seines, and weirs for the purpose of 
transporting the herring to Canada for processing. The transshipment 
operations will occur within the boundaries of the State of Maine or 
within the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69[deg]30' W longitude 
and

[[Page 36527]]

within 12 nautical miles from Maine's seaward boundary.

    Dated: June 12, 2013.
Jean-Pierre Pl[eacute],
Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-14477 Filed 6-13-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.